In
2000, Bulacan identified the following problems in local
education: inadequate teaching competencies, lack of books
and workbooks, low parent involvement in child learning
process, ineffective monitoring of performances of pupils
and teachers, and poor incentives and rewards for teachers.
Ratings of Bulacan pupils in the 2000 national achievement
tests were 39.40% in Math (as against the national 50%)
and 40.23% in English (as against the national 52%).
To
address the problem, the provincial LGU implemented the
JOSIE program.
The
program had trained 4,141 teachers in math and reading proficiency,
trained 157 newly hired teachers and 526 school managers,
conducted orientations on home-school collaboration for
247,825 parents, and trained 332 youth volunteers.
It
had developed and distributed over 555,000 workbooks for
Grades I-IV pupils, 9,600 manuals for teachers, and 248,000
manuals for parents.
The
program had given awards to 21 outstanding teachers, and
incentives to 4,859 Grades I-III teachers, 496 school administrators,
and 30 district supervisors.
There
have been improvements in performance of pupils, with proficiency
level of 72.81% in the SY 2004-05 comprehensive English
learning test for Region III. Bulacan has the lowest incidence
of non-readers in English—1 for every 100 non-readers
in the region. English proficiency of teachers also improved,
with 64.48% during SY 2004-05 regional English assessment
test. It is second to San Fernando City’s 69.99%.
Workbooks
and manuals have reduced the clerical load of teachers.
Parents’ participation in teaching-learning has been
accepted in 496 schools. More parents are giving homework
supervision to their children, attending school activities,
and assuming leadership roles. There is high morale and
motivation among teachers, administrators and parents due
to community recognition of their roles.
